Mosley's Herndon signs one-year deal with Yankees

David Herndon was claimed off waivers by Toronto and New York in the past month before signing with the Yankees on Tuesday.

AP photo

By Brad Milner | News Herald Writer

Published: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 09:15 PM.

David Herndon’s whirlwind month concluded on Tuesday.

The former Mosley High School and Gulf Coast State standout pitcher signed with the New York Yankees, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported. Herndon signed a one-year split deal, according to his agent, Joshua Kusnick, who tweeted the details of the contract Tuesday afternoon.

The split deal includes a $750,000 contract plus $50,000 in incentives should Herndon make the Yankees’ major-league roster. It calls for a $180,000 base salary for any service in the minor leagues.

Herndon, 27, pitched in just five games last season with Philadelphia before undergoing Tommy John surgery in June. He was activated from the 60-day disabled list Oct. 19 and claimed off waivers by Toronto four days later. The Blue Jays designated him for assignment Oct. 31 and the Yankees claimed him off waivers Nov. 6.

Herndon elected free agency rather than being outrighted to Triple-A and was placed on waivers by the Yankees on Friday. He had to clear waivers again and did so on Tuesday before the Yankees finally signed him to a deal.

Kusnick tweeted Herndon would be recovered from Tommy John and ready to play June 1. Two months of the season would have elapsed at that time and Herndon will be given a chance to work his way on to the big-league roster.

Herndon was 2-8 with one save and a 3.85 ERA in 97 MLB games with the Phillies. The right-hander reliever had a career-high 39 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched in 2010. Last season ended poorly, but he had eight strikeouts to only one walk in 7 2/3 innings before being placed on the disabled list initially with elbow inflammation before surgery became the option in June.

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The former Mosley High School and Gulf Coast State standout pitcher signed with the New York Yankees, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported. Herndon signed a one-year split deal, according to his agent, Joshua Kusnick, who tweeted the details of the contract Tuesday afternoon.

The split deal includes a $750,000 contract plus $50,000 in incentives should Herndon make the Yankees’ major-league roster. It calls for a $180,000 base salary for any service in the minor leagues.

Herndon, 27, pitched in just five games last season with Philadelphia before undergoing Tommy John surgery in June. He was activated from the 60-day disabled list Oct. 19 and claimed off waivers by Toronto four days later. The Blue Jays designated him for assignment Oct. 31 and the Yankees claimed him off waivers Nov. 6.

Herndon elected free agency rather than being outrighted to Triple-A and was placed on waivers by the Yankees on Friday. He had to clear waivers again and did so on Tuesday before the Yankees finally signed him to a deal.

Kusnick tweeted Herndon would be recovered from Tommy John and ready to play June 1. Two months of the season would have elapsed at that time and Herndon will be given a chance to work his way on to the big-league roster.

Herndon was 2-8 with one save and a 3.85 ERA in 97 MLB games with the Phillies. The right-hander reliever had a career-high 39 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched in 2010. Last season ended poorly, but he had eight strikeouts to only one walk in 7 2/3 innings before being placed on the disabled list initially with elbow inflammation before surgery became the option in June.